deny
8 synonyms and 2 antonyms for deny, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To state that something is not true.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use deny
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
flatly deny
deny the allegations
deny a request
deny access
Etymology
From Old French denoier, from Latin denegare ("to refuse utterly"), built from de- ("away") and negare ("to say no").
Full origin of deny →Frequently asked questions
What does “deny” mean?
The word “deny” means to state that something is not true. In plain terms, to say something isn't true, or to refuse to allow someone something.
How do you pronounce “deny”?
“Deny” is pronounced dih-NEYE (/dəˈnaɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “deny” in a sentence?
Here is “deny” used in a sentence: “He denied stealing the money, even with the evidence against him.”
What part of speech is “deny”?
“Deny” is a verb.
Where does the word “deny” come from?
The word “deny” comes from Latin. From Old French denoier, from Latin denegare ("to refuse utterly"), built from de- ("away") and negare ("to say no").
Is “deny” a common word?
“Deny” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “deny” have?
“Deny” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to state that something is not true.
What is the difference between deny and refuse?
To deny is to state that something is not true, as in denying an accusation. To refuse is to decline to give or do something someone wants; 'deny' can also carry this second meaning when you deny someone a request, but 'refuse' never means to call a statement false.
What is the difference between deny and refute?
To deny is simply to state that something is not true, without necessarily offering proof. To refute goes further and means to prove a claim false with evidence or argument, so refuting is a stronger, more demanding act than merely denying.
What is the difference between deny and denounce?
To deny is to state that something is not true or to refuse someone something. To denounce is to publicly condemn a person or action as wrong; the two are unrelated in meaning despite sometimes appearing in similar contexts.
Which preposition follows deny?
'Deny' is a transitive verb and usually takes a direct object with no preposition, as in 'deny the charge' or 'deny someone access'. Avoid saying 'deny of'; the correct patterns are 'deny something' or 'deny someone something'.
